Method and system for independent participant control of audio during multiparty communication sessions

ABSTRACT

A method and system for independent participant control of audio during a multiparty communication session includes receiving an audio stream from each of a plurality of participants to a multiparty communication connection. An audio control signal is received from a participant for an audio stream of another participant. A conference output stream is generated for the participant by applying an audio parameter based on the audio control signal to the audio stream.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of multipartycommunications, and more particularly to a method and system forindependent participant control of audio during multiparty communicationsessions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern business practices often require that several persons meet on thetelephone to engage in a conference call. The conference call hasintroduced certain applications and techniques that are superior tothose found in a meeting with persons physically present in the samelocation. For example, a conference call attendee who is notparticipating at the moment may wish to mute their audio output andsimply listen to the other conferences. This allows the particularconferee to work on another project while still participating in theconference.

While the conference call has been substantially helpful in minimizingtravel expenses and other costs associated with business over longdistances, significant obstacles still remain in accomplishing the sametasks with the same efficiency as one would in having a meeting with allpersons in the same physical location. For example, the audio receivedby a particular conferencee may be inadequately balanced between theother conferencees such that one conferencee mutes or makes moredifficult to hear the comments and participation of the otherconferencees or to distinguish between other conferencees.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and a system for independentparticipant control of audio during multiparty communication sessionsthat substantially eliminate or reduce the disadvantages and problemsassociated with previous systems and methods. In particular, independentand discrete control of audio signal strength are provided toparticipants of a conference call or other suitable multipartyconnection.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method andsystem for independent participant control of audio during a multipartycommunication session includes receiving an audio stream from each of aplurality of participants to a multiparty communication connection. Anaudio control signal is received from a participant for an audio streamof another participant. A conference output stream is generated for theparticipant by applying an audio parameter based on the audio controlsignal to the audio stream of the other participant.

More specifically, in accordance with a particular embodiment of thepresent invention, the audio parameter comprises an audio volumeparameter and a conference output stream for the participant comprises avolume for the audio stream adjusted based on the audio volumeparameter. The audio control signals may comprise the audio parameter onan adjustment to the audio parameter.

Technical advantages of the present invention include providing a methodand system for independent participant control of audio duringmultiparty communication sessions. In one or more embodiments, an audiovolume feature allows a participant of a conference call toindependently and discretely adjust the relative volume of each otherparticipant within his or her conference stream. Accordingly,participants on a conference call or other multiparty session may eachcustomize characteristics of the call without affecting otherparticipants.

Another technical advantage of one or more embodiments of the presentinvention include providing an improved conference bridge. Inparticular, the conference bridge independently and dynamically adjustsfor each participant the audio volume or signal strength of the otherparticipants. Accordingly, the conference bridge allows participants toeach customize call characteristics to suit their particular needs andto more efficiently conduct business during the call.

Other technical advantages of the present invention will be readilyapparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures,description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numeralsrepresent like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a communications system inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating details of the conference bridgeof FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a table diagram illustrating details of the conferenceparameters of FIG. 2 in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the conference bridge of FIG. 2configured for an exemplary conference call in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for independentparticipant control of audio during a conference call in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing conferencestreams to participants on a conference call based on individualizedparameters of the participants in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a communications system 12 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, thecommunications system 12 is a distributed system transmitting audio,video, voice, data and other suitable types of real-time and nonreal-time traffic between source and destination endpoints.

Referring to FIG. 1, the communications system 12 includes a network 14connecting a plurality of communication devices 16 to each other and tostandard analog telephones 18 through a gateway 20 and the publicswitched telephone network (PSTN) 22. The communication devices 16,standard analog telephones 18 and gateway 20 are connected to thenetwork 14 and/or PSTN 22 through twisted pair, cable, fiber optic,radio frequency, infrared, microwave and/or any other suitable wirelineor wireless links 28.

In one embodiment, the network 14 is the Internet, a wide area network(WAN), a local area network (LAN) or other suitable packet-switchednetwork. In the Internet embodiment, the network 14 transmitsinformation in Internet Protocol (IP) packets. Telephony voiceinformation is transmitted in the Voice over IP (VoIP) format. Real-timeIP packets such as VoIP packets are encapsulated in real-time transportprotocol (RTP) packets for transmission over the network 14. It will beunderstood that the network 14 may comprise any other suitable types ofelements and links and that traffic may be otherwise suitablytransmitted using other protocols and formats.

The communication devices 16 also communicate control information withthe network 14 to control call setup, teardown and processing as well ascall services. The communication devices 16 comprise IP or other digitaltelephones, personal and other suitable computers or computing devices,personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell or other mobile telephones orany other device or set of devices such as the telephone 18 and gateway20 combination capable of communicating real-time audio, video and/orother information over the network 14.

For voice calls, the communication devices 16 comprise real-timeapplications that play traffic as it is received or substantially as itis received into which packet delivery cannot be interrupted withoutseverely degrading performance. A codec (coder/decoder) converts audio,video or other suitable signals generated by users from analog signalsinto digital form. The digital encoded data is encapsulated into IP orother suitable packets for transmission over the network 14. IP packetsreceived from the network 14 are converted back into analog signals andplayed to the user. It will be understood that the communication devicesmay otherwise suitably encode and decode signals transmitted over orreceived from the network 14.

The gateway 20 provides conversion between analog and/or digitalformats. The standard analog telephones 18 communicate standardtelephony signals through PSTN 22 to the gateway 20. At the gateway 20,the signals are converted to IP packets in the VoIP format. Similarly,VoIP packets received from the network 14 are converted into standardtelephony signals for delivery to the destination telephone 18 throughPSTN 22. The gateway 20 also translates between analog the network callcontrol system and the Signaling System 7 (SS7) protocol and othersignaling protocols used in PSTN 22.

In one embodiment, the network 14 includes a call manager 30 and aconference bridge 32. The call manager 30 and the conference bridge 32may be located in a central facility or have their functionalitydistributed across and/or at the periphery of the network 14. The callmanager 30 and the conference bridge 32 are connected to the network 14by any suitable type of wireline or wireless link. In anotherembodiment, the network 14 may be operated without the call manager 30,in which case the communication devices 16 may communicate controlinformation directly with each other or with other suitable networkelements. In this embodiment, services are provided by the communicationdevices 16 and/or other suitable network elements.

The call manager 30 manages calls in the network 14. A call is anycommunication session between two or more parties. The parties may bepersons and/or equipment such as computers. The sessions may includereal-time connections, connections having real-time characteristics, nonreal-time connections and/or a combination of connection types.

The call manager 30 is responsive to service requests from thecommunication devices 16, including the standard telephones 18 throughthe gateway 20. For example, the call manager 30 may provide voicemail,bridging, multicasting, call hold, conference call and other multipartycommunications and/or other suitable services for the communicationsdevices 16. The call manager 30 provides services by performing theservices, controlling performance of the services, delegatingperformance of the services and/or by otherwise initiating the services.

The conference bridge 32 provides conference call and other suitableaudio, video, and/or real-time multiparty communication sessions betweencommunication devices 16. In particular, the conference bridge 32receives media from participating devices 16 and, using suitable signalprocessing techniques, mixes the media to produce conference signals.During normal operation, each device 16 receives a conference signalthat includes contributions from all other participating devices.

As described in more detail below, the conference bridge 32 provides forindependent participant control of audio during multipartycommunications sessions. The audio may be voice data from a conferencecall or other suitable transmission including an audio component. Themultiparty communication session includes three or more partiesexchanging audio and/or other suitable information.

In a particular embodiment, the conference bridge 32 provides a volumefeature that allows each participant to independently and discretelyadjust within his or her conference output stream the relative audiovolume, or signal strength, of each other participant. Thus,participants on a conference call or other multiparty communicationssession may each customize parameter for the call to suit their needswithout affecting other participants.

To support independent participant control of audio, the call manager 30may receive audio control signals from the individual participants andpass the signals onto the conference bridge 32 for customization of eachparticipant's conference output stream. In another embodiment, thecommunication devices 16 may directly communicate the audio controlsignals to the conference bridge 32 for customization of the conferenceoutput streams. The audio control signals may comprise audio parametersfor customizing the conference output streams or adjustments topre-existing audio parameters for customizing the conference outputstreams. The audio control signals may comprise a call signaling messageand be generated by the communication devices 16, telephones 18 and/orgateway 20 by or in response to a hard key, a soft key, a feature buttonor a sequence of keypad presses.

In operation, a call initiation request is first sent to the callmanager 30 when a call is placed over the network 14. The callinitiation request may be generated by a communication device 16 and/orthe gateway 20 for telephones 18. Once the call manager 30 receives thecall initiation request, the call manager 30 sends a signal to theinitiating communication device 16 and/or gateway 20 for telephones 18offering to call the destination device. If the destination device canaccept the call, the destination device replies to the call manager 30that it will accept the call. By receiving this acceptance, the callmanager 30 transmits a signal to the destination device causing it toring. When the call is answered, the call manager 30 instructs thecalled device and the originating device to begin media streaming toeach other. If the originating device is a PSTN telephone 18, the mediastreaming occurs between the gateway 20 and the destination device. Thegateway 20 then transmits the media to telephone 18.

For conference calls, the call manager 30 identifies participants basedon the called number or other suitable criteria. The call manager 30controls the conference bridge 32 to set up, process and tear downconference calls and other multiparty communication sessions. During themultiparty communications sessions, participants are connected andstream media through the conference bridge 32. The media is crossconnected and mixed to produce conference output streams for eachparticipant. The conference output stream for a participant includes themedia of all other participants, a subset of other participants or othersuitable mix dictated by the type of multiparty session and/or theparticipant.

FIG. 2 illustrates details of the conference bridge 32 in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, theconference bridge 32 provides real-time multiparty audio connectionsbetween three or more participants. It will be understood that theconference bridge 32 may support other types of suitable multipartycommunications sessions including real-time audio streams withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, conference bridge 32 concludes controller 50,buffers 52, converters 54, normalizer 56, adaptive summers 58 anddatabase 60. The controller 50, buffers 52, converters 54, normalize 56,adaptive summers 58 and database 60 may comprise logic encoded in media.Logic comprises functional instructions for carrying out programmedtasks. The media comprises computer disks or other suitablecomputer-readable media, applications specific integrated circuits(ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), digital signal processor(DSP) or other suitable specific or general purpose processors,transmission media or other suitable media in which logic may be encodedand utilized.

The controller 50 directs the other components of the conference bridge32 and communicates with the call manager 30 to set up, process and teardown conference calls. The controller 50 also receives audio controlsignals from participants either directly from the communication devices16 or through the call manager 30. The audio control signals includeaudio parameters and/or adjustments to stored audio parameters for theconference output streams of each participant. As used herein, the termeach means everyone of at least a subset of identified items. The audioparameters or adjustments to audio parameters are stored in the database60.

The buffers 52 include input and output buffers. The input buffersreceive and buffer packets of input audio streams from participants forprocessing by the conference bridge 32. The output buffers receive andbuffer conference output streams generated by the conference bridge 32for transmissions to participants. In a particular embodiment, aparticular input buffer or set of input buffer resources are assigned toeach audio input stream and a particular output buffer or set of outputbuffer resources are assigned to each conference output stream. Theinput and output buffers may be associated with corresponding input andoutput interfaces and perform error check, packet loss prevention,packet ordering and congestion control functions.

The converters 54 include input and output converters. The inputconverters receive input packets of a participant from a correspondingbuffer and convert the packet from the native format of theparticipant's device 16 to a standard format of the conference bridge 32for cross linking and processing in the conference bridge 32. Similarly,the output converters receive conference output streams for participantsin the standard format and convert the conference output streams to thenative format of participant's devices. In this way, the conferencebridge 32 allows participants to connect using a variety of devices andtechnologies.

The normalizers 56 include input and/or output normalizers. Thenormalizers received packets from the input audio streams in a commonformat and normalize the timing of the packets for cross connections inthe adaptive summers 58.

The adaptive summers 58 include a plurality of summers or other suitablesignal processing resources each operable to sum, add or otherwisecombine a plurality of input streams based on dynamic parameters intoconference output streams for participants to a conference call. Oncethe adaptive summers 58 have generated the conference output streams,each conference output stream is converted by a corresponding converterand buffered by a corresponding output buffer for transmission to thecorresponding participant.

In one embodiment, each participant is assigned an adaptive summer thatreceives audio input streams from each other participant to theconference call and audio parameters for the input streams. The adaptivesummer combines the audio input streams based on the audio parameters togenerate a customized conference output stream for delivery to theparticipant. The adaptive summers may each store relevant audioparameters or may access the database 60 to obtain the audio parameters.The audio parameters may be dynamically and independently changed byeach participant during a conference call to allow dynamic and ongoingmodifications to the conference output stream for the participant.

In a particular embodiment, the adaptive summers 58 store a participantparameter for each input audio stream and multiplies each input audiostream by the corresponding audio parameter. In this way, the adaptivesummers 58 can individually and discretely amplify or attenuate thestrength of any signal within the conference output stream for aparticipant. For example, in generating a conference output stream forparticipant “A”, an adaptive summer 58 may amplify the signal strengthof participant “B” by multiplying it by a factor of 1.1, attenuate thesignal strength of participant “C” by a factor of 0.9 and maintain thesignal strength of participant “D”.

This may be illustrated by the following formula:

A=1.1*B+0.9*C+1.0D

where A is the conference output stream for participant “A”; B is theinput audio stream from participant “B”, C is the input audio streamfrom participant “C” and D is the input audio stream from participant“D”.

The database 60 includes a set of conference parameters 62 for eachongoing conference call of the conference bridge 32. The conferenceparameters 62 for each conference call include an identification ofparticipants 64 and individualized audio parameters 66 for eachparticipant. In one embodiment, the participants are identified at thebeginning of a conference call based on caller ID, phone number or othersuitable identifier. The audio parameters may be initially set to adefault value with adjustments to the parameters and/or new parametersreceived from the participants in-band with the audio stream or over acontrol link or channel. Each adjustment to an audio parameter and/ornew audio parameter should directly or indirectly identify theparticipant setting that parameter and the input audio stream to whichit applies. Upon modification of an audio parameter, the new parameteris written to the corresponding adaptive summer 58 for application.

FIG. 3 illustrates a data structure for conference parameters 62 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment, the conference parameters 62 are stored in a database tablefor each ongoing conference call. It will be understood that theconference parameters 62 may be otherwise suitably stored withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a conference parameter table 80 includes aparticipant column 82 uniquely identifying the participants to aconference call and audio parameter columns 84 each storing audioparameters to be applied to the input audio stream of the correspondingparticipant. These parameters are selected by other participants fortheir conference output streams. Each participant row 86 indicates theaudio parameters 88 selected by the corresponding participant for eachother participant's audio input stream. The audio parameter of eachparticipant's input stream in its own output stream may be empty if theadaptive summer 58 for the participant is not provided with thatparticipant's own input stream or may be zero to eliminate theparticipant's own input stream from its own conference output stream.

In exemplary table 80, participant “1” has an audio parameter of 1.2 forparticipant “2” and 1.4 for participant “3.” Thus, the signal for theaudio stream of participant “3” will be relatively higher, or louder,than that of participant “2” in the conference output stream provided toparticipant “1.” Participant “2” has an audio parameter of 1.0 for theaudio stream of participant “1” and an audio parameter of 0.6 for theaudio stream of participant “3.” An audio parameter of 1.0 may be adefault and/or neutral parameter neither amplifying nor attenuating thecorresponding signal. Thus, participant “1” will have a relativelyhigher volume than participant “3” in the conference output stream forparticipant “2”. Similarly, participant “3” has an audio parameter of0.8 for participant “1” and 1.0 for participant “2.” Thus, participant“2” will have a relatively higher volume than participant “1” in theconference output stream for participant “3.” It will be understood thatthe audio parameter may indicate other suitable types of treatment fordistinguishing between the input streams in the conference outputstream.

FIG. 4 illustrates a conference bridge 100 managing an exemplaryconference call between users A, B, C and D. In the illustratedembodiment, the conference bridge 100 is configured to provide eachparticipant 102 an input buffer 104, adaptive summer 106 and outputbuffer 108. Each input buffer 104 receives and buffers an audio streamfrom a corresponding participant 102 and passes the packets to theconverter and normalizer 110. The converter and normalizer 110 convertthe packets from their native format to a common format for theconference bridge 100 and/or conference call and normalize the packets.The packets are then cross connected to the adaptive summers 106.

Each adaptive summer 106 is associated with a participant 102 andreceives input audio streams from each other participant 102. Thus,adaptive summer 106 for participant A, for example, includes audio inputstreams for participants B, C and D. Similarly, adaptive summer 106 forparticipant B receives audio streams from participants A, C and D, whileadaptive summer 106 for participant C receives audio streams fromparticipants A, B and D and adaptive summer 106 for participant Dreceives audio streams from participants A, B and C.

In the adaptive summers 106, each audio stream is, before being combinedwith other streams, multiplied by a corresponding audio parameter set bythe participant to which the conference output stream is provided. Theaudio streams are multiplied by a value of that is greater than 1 toamplify the signal, a value of 1 to leave the signal unchanged and by avalue that is less than 1 to attenuate the signal. In addition, eachaudio signal may be multiplied by a value of 0 or substantially 0 toremove or substantially remove the signal from the conference outputstream.

The conference output streams with the adjusted input signals are eachpassed to the converter 112 for conversion back to the native format ofthe corresponding participant. Packets of the conference output streamare buffered at output buffer 108 for transmission to the correspondingparticipant 102.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for independent participant control of audioduring a conference call in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention. The method begins at step 150 in which a conferencecall is initially set up by the call manager 30 in the conference bridge32.

Proceeding to step 152, audio parameters are set to default for eachparticipant to the conference call. In one embodiment, the defaultparameters include a value of 1.0 such that each input stream has thesame relative weight of each other input stream. It will be understoodthat other suitable default parameters may be used or that audioparameter may be initially received from each participant for theconference call. Step 152 leads to state 154.

At state 154, a conference output stream is generated for eachparticipant based on audio parameters set by and/or for the participant.In a particular embodiment, the audio input streams of each otherparticipant is multiplied by the audio parameters set by a participantand then combined into a conference output stream for the participant.

In response to receipt of a new audio volume parameter, adjustment of anexisting volume parameter or other suitable volume change, state 154transitions to step 156. At step 156, the new audio volume parameter isstored or the existing audio parameter adjusted based on control signalreceived from the participant. The signal may be received in-band withthe packets or may be an out-of-band control signal. Thus, theparticipant may adjust the volume of one member of the conferencewithout increasing the volume of the other members. Step 156 returns tostate 154 in which the conference output stream is generated using thenew parameter.

In response to call termination, state 154 transitions to step 158. Atstate 158, the conference call is torn down. Upon teardown of theconference call, the conference parameter 62 may be deleted from thedatabase 60. Alternatively, parameters for certain participants may bestored and reused in later conference calls.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for providing conference streams toparticipants on a conference call based on individualized participantparameters in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.The method begins at step 200 in which an audio stream is received fromeach participant and buffered.

Proceeding to step 202, the audio streams are each converted to a commonformat for the conference bridge 32. Next, at step 204, the audiostreams are normalized. At step 206, the normalized audio streams arecross connected to the adaptive summers 58 or other suitable devicecapable of combining the streams to generate conference output streams.

At step 208, individualized audio parameters are applied to each audiostream for each participant. At step 210, the adjusted audio streams arecombined to generate conference output streams for each participant. Inthis way, each participant is able to individually and discretelycontrol the participation of each other participant in his or herconference stream.

Next, at step 212, each conference output stream is converted to thenative format of the corresponding participant. At step 214, theconference streams are buffered and transmitted to the participants.Step 214 leads to the end of the process by which the conference bridgecustomizes the conference call for each participant based on inputs fromthat participant.

Although the present invention has been described with severalembodiments, various changes and modifications may be suggested to oneskilled in the art. It is intended that the present invention encompasssuch changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for independent participant control ofaudio during a multiparty communication session, comprising: receivingan audio stream from each of a plurality of participants to a multipartycommunication connection, wherein each audio stream comprises aplurality of packets; receiving an audio control signal from aparticipant for an audio stream of another participant; normalizing atiming of the packets of each of the audio streams; and generating aconference output stream for the participant by applying an audioparameter based on the audio control signal to packets within the audiostream received from the participant.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe audio control signal comprises an adjustment to the audio parameter.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio control signal comprises theaudio parameter.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receivingthe audio control signal from the participant for a particular one ofthe audio streams; and generating the conference output stream for theparticipant by applying the audio parameter based on the audio controlsignal to only packets within the particular one of the audio streams.5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving the audiocontrol signal from the participant for a plurality of audio streams;and generating the conference output stream for the participant byapplying the audio parameter based on the audio control signal topackets within the plurality of audio streams.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising: receiving the audio control signal from theparticipant for a subset of the audio streams; and generating theconference output stream for the participant by applying the audioparameter based on the audio control signal to packets within the subsetof audio streams.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio parametercomprises an audio volume parameter and the conference output stream forthe participant comprises a volume for the audio stream adjusted basedon the audio control signal.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving independent audio control signals from each of aplurality of participants for controlling particular audio streams; andgenerating conference output streams for each participant by applyingaudio parameters based on the audio control signal from the participantto packets within the audio streams.
 9. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising generating the conference output stream for the participantby multiplying the audio parameter by values associated with packetswithin the audio stream prior to combining the audio stream with otheraudio streams of the conference output stream for the participant. 10.The method of claim 1, wherein the multiparty communication connectioncomprises a conference call.
 11. A computer program stored on a computerreadable medium, the computer program operable to: receive an audiostream comprising a plurality of packets from each of a plurality ofparticipants to a multiparty communication connection; receive an audiocontrol signal from a participant for an audio stream of anotherparticipant; normalize a timing of the packets from each of theplurality of participants; and generate a conference output stream forthe participant by applying an audio parameter based on the audiocontrol signal to packets received from the participant.
 12. Thecomputer program of claim 11, wherein the audio control signal comprisesan adjustment to the audio parameter.
 13. The computer program of claim11, wherein the audio control signal comprises the audio parameter. 14.The computer program of claim 11, further operable to receive the audiocontrol signal from the participant for a particular one of the audiostreams and to generate the conference output stream for the participantby applying the audio parameter based on the audio control signal toonly packets within the particular one of the audio streams.
 15. Thecomputer program of claim 11, further operable to receive the audiocontrol signal from the participant for a plurality of audio streams andto generate the conference output stream for the participant by applyingthe audio parameter based on the audio control signal to packets withinthe plurality of audio streams.
 16. The computer program of claim 11,the logic further operable to receive the audio control signal from theparticipant for a subset of the audio streams and to generate theconference output stream for the participant by applying the audioparameter based on the audio control signal to packets within the subsetof audio streams.
 17. The computer program of claim 11, wherein theaudio parameter comprises an audio volume parameter and a conferenceoutput stream for the participant comprises a volume for the audiostream adjusted based on the audio control signal.
 18. The computerprogram of claim 11, the logic further operable to receive independentaudio control signals from each of a plurality of participants forcontrolling particular audio streams and to generate conference outputstreams for each participant by applying audio parameters based on theaudio control signal from the participant to packets within the audiostreams.
 19. The computer program of claim 11, the logic furtheroperable to generate the conference output stream for the participant bymultiplying the audio parameter by values associated with packets withinthe audio stream prior to combining the audio stream with other audiostreams of the conference output stream for the participant.
 20. Thecomputer program of claim 11, wherein the multiparty communicationconnection comprises a conference call.
 21. A system for independentparticipant control of audio during a multiparty communication session,comprising: means for receiving an audio stream from each of a pluralityof participants to a multiparty communication connection, wherein eachaudio stream comprises a plurality of packets; means for receiving anaudio control signal from a participant for an audio stream of anotherparticipant; means for normalizing a timing of the packets from each ofthe plurality of participants; and means for generating a conferenceoutput stream for the participant by applying an audio parameter basedon the audio control signal to packets within the audio stream.
 22. Thesystem of claim 21, wherein the audio control signal comprises anadjustment to the audio parameter.
 23. The system of claim 21, whereinthe audio control signal comprises the audio parameter.
 24. The systemof claim 21, further comprising: means for receiving the audio controlsignal from the participant for a particular one of the audio streams;and means for generating the conference output stream for theparticipant by applying the audio parameter based on the audio controlsignal to only packets within the particular one of the audio streams.25. The system of claim 21, further comprising: means for receiving theaudio control signal from the participant for a plurality of audiostreams; and means for generating the conference output stream for theparticipant by applying the audio parameter based on the audio controlsignal to packets within the plurality of audio streams.
 26. The systemof claim 21, further comprising: means for receiving the audio controlsignal from the participant for a subset of the audio streams; and meansfor generating the conference output stream for the participant byapplying the audio parameter based on the audio control signal topackets within the subset of audio streams.
 27. The system of claim 21,wherein the audio parameter comprises an audio volume parameter and theconference output stream for the participant comprises a volume for theaudio stream adjusted based on the audio control signal.
 28. The systemof claim 21, further comprising: receiving independent audio controlsignals from each of a plurality of participants for controllingparticular audio streams; and generating conference output streams foreach participant by applying audio parameters based on the audio controlsignal from the participant to packets within the audio streams.
 29. Thesystem of claim 21, further comprising generating the conference outputstream for the participant by multiplying the audio parameter by valuesassociated with packets within the audio stream prior to combining theaudio stream with other audio streams of the conference output streamfor the participant.
 30. The system of claim 21, wherein the multipartycommunication connection comprises a conference call.
 31. A method forindependent participant control of audio properties for a multipartycommunication connection, comprising: receiving an audio stream fromeach of a plurality of participants to a multiparty communicationconnection, wherein the audio stream comprises a plurality of packets;normalizing a timing of the packets from each of the plurality ofparticipants; cross-connecting the audio stream of each participant to aconference output stream generator for each of the remainingparticipants; applying separately to packets within each of a pluralityof audio streams at the conference stream output generator of aparticipant an audio parameter independently set by the participant forthe audio stream; and after application of the audio parameters at theconference stream output generator, combining a set of resulting audiostreams to generate a conference output stream for the participant. 32.The method of claim 31, wherein the audio parameters comprise a multipleand are applied to the audio streams by multiplying the multiple by thevalues associated with packets within the audio stream.
 33. A conferencebridge, comprising: an input buffer for each of a plurality ofparticipants, the input buffer operable to receive and buffer audiostreams generated by the participants, wherein each audio streamcomprises a plurality of packets; a normalizer operable to normalize atiming of the packets received from each of the participants; across-connect operable to cross-connect an audio stream from eachparticipant to conference output stream generators for remainingparticipants; the conference stream output generator for eachparticipant operable to multiply values associated with packets withineach audio stream received from the cross-connect by any correspondingmultiple independently controlled by the participant and to combine aset of resulting audio streams to generate a conference output streamfor the participant; and an output buffer for each participant, theoutput buffer operable to receive and buffer the conference outputstream for transmission to the participant.
 34. The conference bridge ofclaim 33, the conference output stream generators each comprising asummer operable to combine packets within the set of resulting audiostreams.
 35. The conference bridge of claim 33, further comprising aconverter operable to convert packets within each audio stream receivedfrom a participant from a native format to a common format.
 36. Theconference bridge of claim 35, the converter operable to convert packetswithin each conference output stream for a participant from the commonformat to the native format.
 37. The conference bridge of claim 33,further comprising a controller operable to dynamically changemultipliers in the conference output stream generator based onparticipant input.
 38. The conference bridge of claim 33, wherein eachaudio stream comprises a plurality of packets communicated according toInternet Protocol (IP).
 39. The method of claim 1, wherein each audiostream comprises a plurality of packets communicated according toInternet Protocol (IP).
 40. The method of claim 1 further comprisingconverting packets within each audio stream received from a participantfrom a native format to a common format.
 41. The method of claim 40,further comprising converting packets within each conference outputstream for a participant from the common format to the native format.42. The computer program of claim 11, wherein the audio stream comprisesa plurality of packets communicated according to Internet Protocol (IP).43. The computer program of claim 11, wherein the computer program isfurther operable to convert packets within each audio stream receivedfrom a participant from a native format to a common format.
 44. Thecomputer program of claim 43, wherein the computer program is furtheroperable to convert packets within each conference output stream for aparticipant from the common format to the native format.
 45. The systemof claim 21, wherein each audio stream comprises a plurality of packetscommunicated according to Internet Protocol (IP).
 46. The system ofclaim 21, further comprising means for converting packets within eachaudio stream received from a participant from a native format to acommon format.
 47. The system of claim 46, further comprising means forconverting packets within each conference output stream for aparticipant from the common format to the native format.
 48. The methodof claim 31, wherein the audio stream comprises a plurality of packetscommunicated according to Internet Protocol (IP).
 49. The method ofclaim 31, further comprising converting packets within each audio streamreceived from a participant from a native format to a common format. 50.The method of claim 49, further comprising converting packets withineach conference output stream for a participant from the common formatto the native format.